NAMM 2016: The 6 Things You Don’t Want to Miss!

I’m very fortunate that my position with Shure allows me the opportunity to attend several trade shows each year. I love traveling around the country and seeing the latest advances in broadcasting, conferencing, and audio visual technology. But, there’s one trade show each year that holds a special place in my singer/musician’s heart: The NAMM® Show.

NAMM stands for National Association of Music Merchants. Each year, the show brings together thousands of merchants and musicians in Anaheim for the largest annual event in the music products industry. It is part convention, part party, part rock concert, and part side-show. It’s the one place where I can put in a full day’s work, try out a few ukuleles, scope out some hardware for my husband’s drum kit, and then catch a show or two. So, in short, it’s heaven.

Yesterday was day one. My feet are killing me, and my voice is hoarse from talking to booth visitors about our great new products, but I want to give you a quick tour of booth #6541. So, without further ado, here are the 6 Things You Don’t Want to Miss at the Shure Booth!

1. Introducing the KSM8 Dualdyne™!

Not much has changed in the world of dynamic microphones since Shure revolutionized it with the SM58®. It’s hard to top near-perfection, but, as our founder once said, we’ll never stop striving to do so. Years of research and development have led us to the next leap forward in dynamic microphone technology: the KSM8 and its unprecedented dual-diaphragm cartridge, the Dualdyne™. The KSM8 Dualdyne features the purest cardioid polar pattern Shure has ever produced. It almost completely negates proximity effect while offering excellent off-axis rejection. Designed with top-tier professional applications in mind, the KSM8 Dualdyne is the live performance dynamic microphone that only Shure could make.

2. The SM58 Wall of Fame

It’s hard to talk about the KSM8 Dualdyne without paying homage to its predecessor, the SM58. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the microphone that is the workhouse of the industry from dive bars to national arena tours. We’re going to be celebrating this golden anniversary all year long, and we’re kicking it off right here at NAMM with a special SM58 Wall of Fame. We have mics on display that have been used and abused by many famous recording artists. Highlights for me include a mic used by Roger Daltry in performance (complete with his signature taped-up handle and cable), a mic signed the the prince of darkness himself, Ozzy Ozbourne, and a rather flat SM58 that was run over by Derek Trucks’ tour bus.

3. KSE1500 Listening Station

When we announced last fall that we had created the world’s first portable, Sound Isolating™ electrostatic earphone system, the first question I heard from everyone was,”When can I hear it?” Well, if you’re in Anaheim, you are in luck. We have a KSE1500 listening station at booth #6541 where you can hear this engineering marvel for yourself. I managed a few minutes at the demo station myself and was amazed. When I queued up my listening selection, a FLAC version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Secondhand News,” it was like I was standing in the studio with them. Truly astounding sound.

4. Product Demos

The KSE1500 system isn’t the only product you can take for a test drive at booth #6541. We have our full range of earphones and headphones on display for your listening pleasure. Looking for a new vocal mic? We have a wired mic demo where you can sing on a variety of our handhelds to compare and contrast. Browse the features of our wireless systems, or give our PSM® in-ear systems a try. If you’ve ever wanted to try out a Shure product, now is your chance!

5. Artist Signings

It wouldn’t be a NAMM show without major celebrity sightings. To make sure you experience a few, here’s a list of Shure artist endorsers stopping by booth #6541 to sign autographs. Thursday afternoon, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood had them lining up clear around the booth! Friday, Phil Anselmo from Pantera will be signing at 2 pm. Also on Friday, we have the guys from Sixx AM stopping by at 12 pm and Cage the Elephant at 3 pm. It’s going to be nuts!

6. The best NAMM shirt yet!

What better way to show your SM58 love? Unfortunately, you have to be at the show to score on of these beauties, so if you’re here, get yours while they last!

Cheryl is a Media Relations Specialist at Shure with previous experience in the customer service department. She is also a professional singer involved in several tribute, cover, and original bands in the Chicago metro area. In what little spare time she has between work and music, she can be found reading or hanging out with her parrot. Cheryl’s favorite mic is the KSM8 and her Twitter handle is @TheUnsungDiva.

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